Neonatal and Pediatric Medicine
Open Access

Abstract

Neonatal nursing is a subspecialty of nursing. Neonatal nursing generally encompasses care for those infants who experience problems shortly after birth, but it also encompasses care for infants who experience long-term problems related to their prematurity or illness after birth. A few neonatal nurses may care for infants up to about 2 years of age. Most neonatal nurses care for infants from the time of birth until they are discharged from the hospital. Healthcare institutions have varying entry-level requirements for neonatal nurses. Neonatal nurses are Registered Nurses (RNs). Some countries or institutions may also require a midwifery qualification. Some institutions may accept newly graduated RNs who have passed the NCLEX exam; others may require additional experience working in adult-health or medical/surgical nursing. Some countries offer postgraduate degrees in neonatal nursing and various doctorates. A nurse practitioner may be required to hold a postgraduate degree. The National Association of Neonatal Nurses recommends two years' experience working in a NICU before taking graduate classes. All nurses working in a birthing centre have an important role in assessing the newborn immediately after birth. There are four different levels of neonatal nursery where a neonatal nurse might work. Such as Level I – It consists of caring for healthy newborns, Level II - provides intermediate or special care for premature or ill newborns, Level III- the Neonatal intensive-care unit (NICU), treats newborns who cannot be treated in the other levels and are in need of high technology to survive, such as breathing and feeding tubes, and Level IV- includes all the skills of the level III but involves the extensive care the most critically and complex newborns. There have been some major changes in the Neonatal Care over the past 120 years. Some of these changes include the invention of the incubator, changes in respiratory care, and the development of surfactants. Duties of a neonatal nurse usually include supplying vital nutrients to newborns, changing feeding tubes, administering medication, observing vital signs, performing intubations and using monitoring devices. In the common situation where premature and sick newborns' lungs are not fully developed, they must be certain infants are breathing and maturing properly. All nurses working in a birthing centre have an important role in assessing the newborn immediately after birth. Neonatal nurses work together with upper-level nurses and physicians to facilitate treatment plans and examinations. Neonatal nurses can also work with speech-language pathologists who specialise in the assessment and treatment of feeding, swallowing and communication in preterm infants. They have regular interaction with patients' families, therefore are required to educate parents or relative on the infant's condition and prepare care instructions after the infant is discharged from the hospital.

Biography

S K Mohanasundari is currently pursuing PhD in INC and working in College of Nursing as Faculty in AIIMS Jodhpur, India. She has published more than 40 articles in various national and international journals and published one book (Entrance Guide for Nurses to Succeed). She is the Member of Editorial and Review Board of three national and two international journals and Life Member of four associations such as TNAI, NRSI, IANN and NNF. She received Best Lecturer Award from Tayma General Hospital, Saudi Arabia. She has worked as an Assistant Professor in private nursing colleges in India, also worked in MOH Saudi Arabia as a Nurse Educator (2013 to 2014) and later worked in All India Institute of Medical Sciences Rishikesh, India. Presently she is working in College of Nursing as Faculty in All India Institute of Medical Sciences Jodhpur, India.

E-mail: roshinikrishitha@gmail.com